What's a Temporary Dental Crown?

When you decide to have crowns done, especially if they involve your front teeth, you will want to be able to give your input regarding how the final crowns will look. One way to do this is with temporary dental crowns. When your teeth are prepared for crowns, the dentist will place temporary dental crowns for you to wear while the final crowns are being made.

What Are the Main Purposes of Temporary Dental Crowns?

Temporary dental crowns eliminate any tooth sensitivity by achieving a seal around the tooth.

They also can keep your gum tissue healthy by recreating the contour of your real teeth. Keeping the gum tissue healthy is of prime importance when it comes time to place the final dental crowns. If the gum tissue is not healthy when the final crown is cemented, there may be contamination of the cement, which can result in a poor bond and/or sensitivity.

They maintain the current position of your teeth by keeping contact with the opposing teeth when you bite and by contacting the adjacent teeth. This is important because all teeth can move and even a slight amount of movement can prevent your permanent tooth crowns from fitting correctly, requiring either a lot of adjustment or having it remade.

Finally, the temporary dental crowns should act as blueprints for the final crowns. It is during this time that you can give the dentist your input regarding the position and shape of the teeth (for example, if the teeth are too long, too short, too square, etc.).

Care of Your Temporary Dental Crowns

There are some differences between temporary dental crowns and final crowns that you should be aware of. Temporary dental crowns are made of a different material, usually some sort of a plastic or acrylic. Since these materials are not as strong as your own teeth, you will have to be careful of what you eat. You should avoid hard foods such as nuts, and tough foods such as bagels or French bread.

Another difference is that temporary dental crowns are cemented on with a dental cement. The reason for this is that the cosmetic dentist will need to be able to remove the temporary dental crowns when it is time to cement the permanent ones. Since the cement is not as strong, sticky foods may cause them to come loose.

If your temporary dental crowns come off or are loose, you should call your dentist so that they can be re-cemented. It is important not to wait, as the tooth may be sensitive, it may move, or, if a long enough period of time passes, the tooth may get decay. As far as home care, your temporary dental crowns should be cleaned with a toothbrush, just like your own teeth. When flossing, though, it is important to floss towards the gums and then slide the floss out by one end rather than lifting it back up through the teeth. This will help ensure that your temporary dental crowns do not come off while flossing.

By Greggory Kinzer, DDS, MSD

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.

The Art of the Dental Crown

Cosmetic dentists aren't all white coats and Novocaine. There is both art and science in a dentist's day. Case in point: what appears to be more or less routine restoration of missing or broken teeth - a dental crown or a dental bridge - is akin to principles of architecture.

Think of the arch of your mouth like the roof of a house. Each element of the structure relies on another. If a rafter breaks, the entire building will, sooner or later, buckle. So it is with your teeth.

The mouth is balanced; teeth function together. One missing tooth can cause permanent changes in your bite. Neighboring teeth drift into the empty space. The opposing tooth will actually grow longer and longer, further frustrating normal chewing. You'll tend to favor one side of your mouth over another. This old house is eventually doomed.

Dentists, then, are believers in tooth restoration and dental crowns. With all the new materials cosmetic dentistry offers today, virtually any mouth can be restored to good working order. A tooth that might have been lost five years ago now has many options for renewed vitality.

And the cosmetic results that can be achieved are, well, awesome. When it comes to new dental technologies, take advantage. Your cosmetic dentist will be there when you're ready to go for it.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.